Archive for the ‘Training Tips’ Category

Dogs are pack animals and when they are aggressive it is often because they are unsure of their place in the pack, and this makes them want to struggle for dominance. If you constantly punish a dog for its wrong behavior then this can add to its aggression levels, as frightened dogs may also be aggressive dogs.

One of the most crucial things that a dog owner needs to know is that a dog has its place at the bottom of the pack. Because dogs are pack animals they will see the family group as their pack, your dog has to recognize that you are the leader of the pack and needs to keep in his place. Dogs that know their place in the hierarchy are usually much happier animals. In order to teach a dog its place in the pack, you will need to be calm but firm in how you handle things. Punishing aggressive behavior in a dog is actually counter productive and can make them more aggressive.

The time to teach your dog what is unacceptable behavior is when they are at the puppy stage and most experts believe that the critical age for training is before they are six months old. Most puppies nip and have to be trained not to, if your puppy is biting then you need to tell it No in a very firm voice, then put the dog in a room and close the door for about a minute. This early behavior modification helps the dog to learn what is expected. In training sessions reward your puppy when it picks up and bites the training toy, if it tries to nip your fingers, and then tell it no in a firm voice, and put the training toy in place.

If your dog has a tendency to bark and go for other dogs while out on a walk, then take a handful of treats with you and distract your dog with a treat whenever another dog appears. Treating your dog in this way helps it to associate other dogs with a pleasant experience and so inhibits their aggressive behavior. When you use the simple, behavior modification tricks outlined here, you will find that your dog will grow calmer and will come to understand what behavior is appropriate and what is not.

You need to let other members of the family in on the rules, so that they know what to do when you aren’t around. Make it clear that if you are in the room it is your job to deal with the dog, this makes it easier for them to realize their place in the pack. If the tips outlined here do not modify aggressive behavior then you may need to see a vet to see if there is an underlying health problem that is causing this.

Dogs are pack animals and when they are aggressive it is often because they are unsure of their place in the pack, and this makes them want to struggle for dominance. If you constantly punish a dog for its wrong behavior then this can add to its aggression levels, as frightened dogs may also be aggressive dogs.

One of the most crucial things that a dog owner needs to know is that a dog has its place at the bottom of the pack. Because dogs are pack animals they will see the family group as their pack, your dog has to recognize that you are the leader of the pack and needs to keep in his place. Dogs that know their place in the hierarchy are usually much happier animals. In order to teach a dog its place in the pack, you will need to be calm but firm in how you handle things. Punishing aggressive behavior in a dog is actually counter productive and can make them more aggressive.

The time to teach your dog what is unacceptable behavior is when they are at the puppy stage and most experts believe that the critical age for training is before they are six months old. Most puppies nip and have to be trained not to, if your puppy is biting then you need to tell it No in a very firm voice, then put the dog in a room and close the door for about a minute. This early behavior modification helps the dog to learn what is expected. In training sessions reward your puppy when it picks up and bites the training toy, if it tries to nip your fingers, and then tell it no in a firm voice, and put the training toy in place.

If your dog has a tendency to bark and go for other dogs while out on a walk, then take a handful of treats with you and distract your dog with a treat whenever another dog appears. Treating your dog in this way helps it to associate other dogs with a pleasant experience and so inhibits their aggressive behavior. When you use the simple, behavior modification tricks outlined here, you will find that your dog will grow calmer and will come to understand what behavior is appropriate and what is not.

Prior to entering your dog in an agility trial or fun match, try and attend one on your own. This will enable you to see how the event is organized and what is required as an entrant. As this will be your first time, do ensure you visit the Novice ring. Is your dog up to the standard of the others? If not, then maybe it would be wise to spend some more time on training your dog on the commands required. The majority of dog trials are held in the open with no fenced areas. If your dog cannot respond to the basic “Come” command, that could cause problems. It is far better if you are confident of your dog’s obedience.

The dog agility trials use a scoring system called runs. These runs are based on the “fault count”. Fault count includes the course faults like knocking down a bar during a jump or exceeding the standard course time (SCT). The faults are also decided on the basis of competition level and course toughness. Keep a diary to track your dog’s progress. Try to get hold of a copy of the course to keep for future reference. This will be invaluable later as it will help to highlight any problems and allow you to deal with them effectively.